ML263841211

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Bird is flying away and to the left with the white rump and slight buff color on right wing.

Observation details

I got on a small dark interesting bird flying down the coast (possibly from Ship Creek) that was much smaller than the Mew Gull I initially saw it fly past. My initial thought was a plover (or some shorebird), but the flight was too bouncy reminding me of a nighthawk which made me think Black Tern (which I knew would be very unlikely here). As the bird got closer (it was cruising down the coast maybe 100-200 yards off the shore) I realized it was a storm-petrel. I assumed that it was just weird light on a Fork-tailed making it appear dark, but then it banked and showed a bright white rump and the rest of the bird was dark. Once I realized that it was a Leach's Storm-Petrel I tried to get a quick video on my phone before getting the word out to anyone who might be down the coast, and then tried a few more times to get a digiscoped video. The flight was rather erratic and bouncy, not powerful/direct as Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel (or Band-rumped) and the wings were more pointed and the tail was more notched than I would expect on a Wilson's The first two screenshots I posted show the long thin wings, short head, and longish tail (which did have a notch to it, and the second photo might suggest that). I did not notice the pale color under the wings shown in these photo, but this does seem to be something that Leach's can show at this time of year based on looking at other photos. The final three screen shots show the bird from a video that had a much lower resolution, but I feel like they show (or at least strongly suggest) a white rump. All of the photos show a bird that is very dark, and the Fork-tailed that was seen at a great distance 20-30 minutes later glowed in the light due to its pale color. I can't figure out how to attach video, but the clips that caught the bird (very short) are available if needed. They show a small seabird with a fluttery flight pattern.

Technical information

Dimensions

344 pixels x 277 pixels

Original file size

19.61 KB